The Age and Related Demographic Characteristics of Students Attending Community Colleges and Four-Year Institutions. Working Papers in Education Finance.

Hyde, William

Information is presented on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of students attending community colleges and four-year institutions in the United States, based on data from the Current Population Survey. It was found that the community college student, on the average, is older than the average student attending a four-year institution. Community colleges have a larger proportion of students attending on a part-time basis. Additionally, community college students as compared to other students more often delay entering college after finishing high school. As compared to students of four-year institutions, community college students are slightly more often married and working. Racial minorities and women also constitute a larger proportion of community college enrollment than at four-year institutions. A larger percentage of community college students than students at other institutions are less advantaged socioeconomically. A comparison of student characteristics between 1973 and 1978 shows that, on the average, a student has gained during this period more independence, more social and economic responsibilities, and is more likely to attend college on a part-time basis. Greater participation by blacks and women has also occurred, and there has been an increase over time in the average age of the student. (SW)